Sixers (6-19) at Celtics (20-4) 12/18

[FLCeltsFan]

What an arrogant jerk Iggy is ... this team is SOOOOO like Atlanta ... and they get away with murder. Brand, Speights and Iggy ... when did THEY earn this respect from the officials?!? This is crazy!

THEY did't earn respect from the officials.  The officials are exacting their revenge for a fine on one of their own because Doc called him on his unprofessional conduct.  Officials don't forget that kind of thing and Bill Kennedy definitely didn't forget it.  After that incident I said that Kennedy shouldn't be officiating Celtics games. I have to admit that last year I didn't see any problems with his officiating.  But, he waited until he thought people had forgotten. Donaghy said it.  Refs have long memories and eventually get their revenge for any perceived slight on them.    I can imagine the refs last night after the game having a good laugh about tossing Sheed and affecting the game by not calling the foul on Pierce.  And that horrible call on Perk for his 6th foul. 

I just read that Mark Cuban is filing a protest for their game because the refs blatantly abused their power to affect that game as well. http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=4756296 I was watching Game Time on NBA TV and counted 3 times where the commentators mentioned. That was a bad call on .....  And in each case it was at a crucial time and influenced the game. 

Officiating is a problem.  As long as Stern coddles these guys and retains sole discretion over them, the next scandal is going to be right around the corner.  What needs to be done is for there to be a completely unbiased committee elected by coaches, owners, and players who will be there to oversee the refs and judge protests of bad officiating in the league.  Right now the refs have no fear of anything so they do just what they please because they know they can get away with it. 

I predicted a scandal with Refs betting on games in a post on Loy's Place in April before the Donaghy thing came out.  And I predict another scandal.  The problem starts at the top and Stern is not about to let anyone else judge his precious refs because he knows that it will come back to him since he had been complicit in it all. 

Rant over.

[celticinorlando]

boston built a big league despite the refs...but it was obvious late when it was close...boston wasn't going to get a call.

[Bahku]

What an arrogant jerk Iggy is ... this team is SOOOOO like Atlanta ... and they get away with murder. Brand, Speights and Iggy ... when did THEY earn this respect from the officials?!? This is crazy!

THEY did't earn respect from the officials.  The officials are exacting their revenge for a fine on one of their own because Doc called him on his unprofessional conduct.  Officials don't forget that kind of thing and Bill Kennedy definitely didn't forget it.  After that incident I said that Kennedy shouldn't be officiating Celtics games. I have to admit that last year I didn't see any problems with his officiating.  But, he waited until he thought people had forgotten. Donaghy said it.  Refs have long memories and eventually get their revenge for any perceived slight on them.    I can imagine the refs last night after the game having a good laugh about tossing Sheed and affecting the game by not calling the foul on Pierce.  And that horrible call on Perk for his 6th foul. 

I just read that Mark Cuban is filing a protest for their game because the refs blatantly abused their power to affect that game as well. http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=4756296

Officiating is a problem.  As long as Stern coddles these guys and retains sole discretion over them, the next scandal is going to be right around the corner.  What needs to be done is for there to be a completely unbiased committee elected by coaches, owners, and players who will be there to oversee the refs and judge protests of bad officiating in the league.  Right now the refs have no fear of anything so they do just what they please because they know they can get away with it. 

I predicted a scandal with Refs betting on games in a post on Loy's Place in April before the Donaghy thing came out.  And I predict another scandal.  The problem starts at the top and Stern is not about to let anyone else judge his precious refs because he knows that it will come back to him since he had been complicit in it all. 

Rant over.

At least you saved the rest of us the rant, Fl (TP). And you're very correct, the bias has gotten worse and worse over the last couple of years. The manipulation of games by officials has always been a problem to some degree, but I don't ever remember it this bad, (and I've been watching NBA ball for a long time - ouch!). There are some who have obvious agendas and the rest are impotent to do anything about it because it will look bad for them as well. I saw a report on the Cuban complaint, and while I think he's a bit over-the-edge sometimes, he's got a case in this instance. I think a complete overhaul and impartial investigation is needed to get it back to the respectable and somewhat objective discipline it once was.